Apparatus for the production of water-gas.



. I I H. E. SMITH.

I 1 APPARATUS r011 THE PRODUCTION OF WATER- u b'.

i APPLIGATICZI TILED 1101 .12. 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 sums-5mm" 1.

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nrucuzom ruin 50v. 12, 1909.

V Patented Feb. 14.1911

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2 HERBERT EDMUND SMITH: or wns'rmmsrnn, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR, THE PRODUCTION OF WATER-GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14; 1911.

Application filed November 12, 1909. Sex-131 170. 527,598.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT EDMUND SMI'TH, of 39 Victoria street, Westminster,

in the county of London, England, having invented a new and useful Form of Apparatus for the Production of lVater-Gas and Carburation by Means of Oil or other Heavy Hydrocarbons, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 24,893, dated November 19, 1908,) do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of same.

This invention relates to an improved form of apparatus for the production of carbnreted-water-gas in a most economical manner, by securing the utmost heat elliciency from the fuel consumed in the apparatus. The principle of the arrangement is such tha the heat produced during the period of blowing up, called the blow is stored in two sets of battle brickwork, ar-

ranged about deep fuel feed chambers which supply two connected generators and serve as gas ouiet and mixing chambers, the bufile brickwork chambers being used alternately as steam superheater and carburetor, the acknowledged effect of this being that any carbon deposit thrown down from the-carburcting material injected into the carburetcr during the period, of gas-making, called the run, is highly heated during the blow following, and, in the next run, the steam passio through in a direction opposite to that oi? the previous run converts any of such deposit into Water-gas, thus preventing any accumulation of solid matter in the checker brick-work, inaddition to which the connecting and injection pipes are cleansed by the steam in its passage through them.

A further feature of the'system is the arrangement \\-'hcrel )y a stream of gas is made to reiiutcr at the top of the chamber, and thus insure thorough circulation and blending of the gases.

- It is a well known fact that a shallow fuel bed is more advantageous for water-gas plants during the blow, as the neccssan high temperature can be obtained in a considerably shorter period, and with less consumption of fuel than otherwise; while, for the run a deep fuel bed is best, owing to the longer contact of the steam with the incandescent fuel. These advantages are cmbodicd in this system, while the whole apcarbure ing paratus is assembled as to obviate the necessit of employing Water cooled valves or va ved passages oetween the steam superheater, generators, oarbureting chamber and hot coke mixing chamber. Also, owing to the complete combustion of the carbon monoxid by means of a secondary. air supply from the blast main, (which carbon monoxid would otherwise be blown into the air) the heat produced is stored in the alternate superheaters and "carbureters as hereinafter described, and is used for the pur 7058 of superheating the incoming steam an to carburet the outgoing stream of water-gas in addition to heating the fuel contained in the deep fuel feed chambers, which effect the mixin of the stream of carbureted-water-gas with t e straightwater-gas as they pass up through same. -At the end of each run of gas-making tbeproc'ess is reversed i. e. the carbureter of one run becomes the superheater of the next run. I

The accompanying drawingsshow a form of my apparatus.

Figures 1 and 3 represent a part elevation and section, while Figs. 2 and 4 show a portion of the a paratus in plan and a section above the clinkering doors 0. I

In carrying my invention into died, I employ two cylindrical fireclay lined vessels A and A placed side by side, in thclowcr portion of each of which is formed a water-v gas generator B and B fitted with the necessary vlinkering doors C, ash doors D, firebars E. blast inlet pipe 1', connection being made i the center of generator crown tomb-urging hoppers (l and G at-the top of Heel vessel by means of fircclay channels H and ll. Above-tho crown of" goneraton chambers is arranged :1 sydem of checker hi-iekwork l and l filling up the space between the charging passages ll and ll and the pater lining, of the shells A and A". This bricluvork will be arranged so as to nsurumiform heat throughout and long ira vol of the hot gases which will enter from suitable openings X and X formed in the outer circumference of aforesaid generator crown at which points the secondary air supply will be admitted. llelweeu and at the base of the-vessels A and A and queuing into same is arranged a (ii-(clay lined counts-linxg pipo' J provided with a branch on winch will be fixed the primary air valve K. and

a vertical pipe IJ will be carried up in give the secondary air supply to complete combustion of gases coming from the genera-' tor chambers and B during the blow,

suitablevalves M and M being placed in the secondary air supply pipes N and K.

At the side of each charging hopper G and l charging hoppers (l and G to the full depth of cylinders, and both tires are raised simul taneously to a state of ineaudeseenec up to the level of the openings X and X. leading from generators B and B into battle brickwork chambers I and. I, by opening main blast valve K secondary air valves M and Bl also being opened, the battle brickwork chambers land l" are highly heated by the complete combustion of the gases, the products of which escape through the open stack valves S and S situated at the top of steel cylinders A and A and directly connected with batlle brickwork chambers 1 and l. 'hen the generators and battle brickwork chambers have attained asuitable temperature forgas-making, the

blast is shut all by closing valves K and M and M, also the two stack valves S an i are. closed, one of the gas valves say P is then open d, steam isadnntted through pipe '1 to the superheatmg battle brickwork v chamber I in the other cylinder A, and the carbureting material is admitted by pipe U to the carbureting battle brickwork chamber I together with a stream of gas introduced through pipe Vfwhich gas is re-passed from outlet main or any convenient source. The steam on admission travels through the highly heated batlle brickwork chamber I and is highly superheated t'l iereby, while any carbon deposited from previous carburation is converted into water-gas which is carried with the steam to the incandescent fuel in generator B down which they travel, the

steam being utilized for the production of water-gas according to the usual re-aetiou. The resultant gases now pass through fireclay lined connecting pipe J and up through the incandescent. "wet in generator ii, the long travel being most ellectivein the reduction of the amount of carbon dioxidpresent. At the crown of the incandescent fuel of enerator B the hot wateras comes into contact with the gas generated from the carburetmg material together with the cn'culat mg st ream of gas both of which have traveled down the carburetingchamber 1', i

the resultant carbureted-water gas passes away up the connecting chamber 11 between fer ding hopper and generator and through perheating chamber with guieut branch pipe 0 attached to the side of charging hopper G, thence through the open gas valve 1" to the usual condenser and scrubber.

\Vhen the test flame shows indications that the beats are getting low, oil and circal-atiu; gas valves attached to pipes ti and V are closed, steam supply '1 is next closed,

and finally gas valve 1 shut. The stack valves S and S are then opened and tires are again raised to a suitable state of incomdescence by opening blast valves K, M and M, these valves are then closed and the stack valves S and S are also closed, and the sequence of operations for the next run is reversed. The "as valve P is then opened. steam i admitted through pipe T to the superheating halite brickwork chamber 1 in the other vessel A, and the carbureting material is admitted by pipe U to the carbureting battle brickwork chamber I together with a stream of gas introduced through the pipe Y, which gas re-passcs from outlet main or any convenient source. The steam on admission travels through the highly heated batllc brickwork chamber 1" and is highly superheated thereby, while any carbon deposited from previous carburation is convertcd into water-gas, which is carried with the steam to the incandescent fuel in generator B down which they travel, the steam being utilized for the production-of watergas, as aforesaid, the resultant gases now pass through tireclay lined connecting pipe J and up through incandescent fuel in generator B. At the crown of the incandescent fuel of generator B the hot water-gas comes into contact with the gas generated from the carbureting iiiaterial together with the circulating stream of gas, both of which have traveled ,down the earbureting chamber 1, the resulting carbureted water-gas passes away up the cormecting chamber It and through branch pipe attached to the side of charging hopper G thence through the open valve. l to the usual scrubber and con denser. Gas-making is continued until a further blowis necessary, when the sequence of operations is again 1' versed.

In the arrangement of the apparatus, I lit all valves with safety inter-locking gear of suitable type in order to prevent the possibility of them being worked out of proper rotation.

Claims:

1. In a plant for the production of watergas. substantially as described, two similarly constructed vessels, at fire-clay lined pipe connecting said vessels at their base; rimary and secondary air blast connectlons for said vessels, each vessel having in the lower portion a fireclay lined water-gas generator and in the upperportion an annular battle brickwork carbureting in steam suat at top OB till each vessel'su('h outlets being open to the 'atnmsphere and fitted \vith coupled staclt' valves-means for admitting a carburcting fluid and steam respectively to said carbureting and superheating chamber, threugh the center of which chamber and making cl1- rect connection between the charging hopper above and generator below, is formed of fireclay a combined deep fuel charging chute andgas mixing chamber at the top of which is secured theraferesaid charging hopper having agas outlet branch attached theretQ.

2. In a plant for the produc'iian of watergab, substantially dewribed, two similarly constructedvessels, a tireclay lined pipe ,ct'muecting said vessels at their base; primarv and secondary air blast connections for said essels, each vessel having in the lower portinn a lireclay lined Water-gas generator, and in the upper portiun is arranged abnut a dew-central fuel feed chamber an annular ba le brickwork carluu'eting and steam sup'erbeating chamber, means fut admitting a carlnu'eting fluid and steam respectively to said carburetingand superheating chamber. and provided with part5 for the admission of secondary air, and havmg in direct connection therewith and attached to the top of each vessel :1 common inlet for the tUlHHFSIOll alternately of steam, l'

and carbureting material with circulating stream of gas.

3., In a plant for Me prnduction of watergas, substantially as described two similarly comm-acted vessels connected at base by tireclay lined valveless connecting piece having attached thereto the primary and secbndary air Suppl connections for generators and bailie brickwork chambers respectively, each vessel having in the lower pertain a lircclay lined water-gas'gencratcr. and in the upper portion an'annular bafile brickwork carbureting and steam super-heating chamber provided with common inlet for the-admission of blt'lllll carburetiug material -und circula.t-

iu; stream of gas together hm stack valve for the emim'siun of blast'prnducts at the top of vessel. through the center of which ehamher is arranged a deep fuel charging chute and gas'nnxing chamber between combined charging hopper and gas outlet abnve and crown of water-gas generator below,v such 

